I'm writing a module for DNN using Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition.  I want to create a series of tabs across the top of the module that will allow me to choose what to display across the bottom of the module, just like the menu system in DNN.

But, I'm not all that familiar with VWD2008, and I'm not sure what the best approach would be to create this look, so I thought I'd ask you guys...

Should I use seperate .ascx files, a single page with HTML tables (toggling the visible setting of each object), panels, or a Multi-View approach?  I'm not sure which one of these methods would be the most efficient, they each seem to have their drawbacks.

Cool... I'll have to look into that a bit more, would you be willing to share some code snips on how this is done?

I've been experimenting with a bunch of different methods, but none of them seem work quite right, looking at other modules shows the panel objects seems to be a popular method.  The best option I found so far was toggling the panel objects, but after adding in a lot of controls on one page I'm already starting to see the limitations.  VS seems to be acting up more with each additonal control I add, making editing an extremely difficult process while trying to work around the editing bugs.  Looks like I'll need to break the code into seperate pages to maintain stability.

Hi,

 I havn't worked with the templatecontroll class so i can not answer that question. I do however have some example code for your: 

 ascx file:

<%@ Control Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true" CodeFile="ConfigureModule.ascx.cs" Inherits="Leval.Modules.Module.ConfigureModule" %>
<%@ Register TagPrefix="dnn" TagName="Label" Src="~/controls/LabelControl.ascx" %>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0">
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="15%" align="left">
<dnn:Label ID="lblChooseShop" runat="server" suffix=":" />
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85%" align="left">
<asp:DropDownList ID="lstShop" runat="server" AutoPostBack="true"></asp:DropDownList>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<hr />
</td></tr>
<tr id="trConfig" visible="false" runat="server">
<td valign="top" width="15%" align="left">
    <asp:LinkButton ID="hlGeneral" runat="server" OnCommand="goConfigure" CommandName="Swap" CommandArgument="general" CssClass="Head"></asp:LinkButton><br />
    <asp:LinkButton ID="hlInvoiceing" runat="server" OnCommand="goConfigure" CommandName="Swap" CommandArgument="invoiceing" CssClass="Head"></asp:LinkButton><br />
    <asp:LinkButton ID="hlSmtp" runat="server" OnCommand="goConfigure" CommandName="Swap" CommandArgument="smtp" CssClass="Head"></asp:LinkButton><br />
    <asp:LinkButton ID="hlPayment" runat="server" OnCommand="goConfigure" CommandName="Swap" CommandArgument="payment" CssClass="Head"></asp:LinkButton><br />
    <asp:LinkButton ID="hlTaxZones" runat="server" OnCommand="goConfigure" CommandName="Swap" CommandArgument="taxzones" CssClass="Head"></asp:LinkButton><br />
    <asp:LinkButton ID="hlShippingMethod" runat="server" OnCommand="goConfigure" CommandName="Swap" CommandArgument="shippingmethod" CssClass="Head"></asp:LinkButton><br />
    <asp:LinkButton ID="hlShippingZones" runat="server" OnCommand="goConfigure" CommandName="Swap" CommandArgument="shippingzones" CssClass="Head"></asp:LinkButton><br />
    <asp:LinkButton ID="hlShippingCost" runat="server" OnCommand="goConfigure" CommandName="Swap" CommandArgument="shippingcost" CssClass="Head"></asp:LinkButton><br />
</td>
<td valign="top" width="85%" align="left">
    <asp:PlaceHolder ID="plhGeneral" runat="server" Visible="true">
    </asp:PlaceHolder>
    <asp:PlaceHolder ID="plhInvoiceing" runat="server" Visible="false">
    </asp:PlaceHolder>
    <asp:PlaceHolder ID="plhSmtp" runat="server" Visible="false">
    </asp:PlaceHolder>
    <asp:PlaceHolder ID="plhPayment" runat="server" Visible="false">
    </asp:PlaceHolder>
    <asp:PlaceHolder ID="plhTaxZones" runat="server" Visible="false">
    </asp:PlaceHolder>
    <asp:PlaceHolder ID="plhShippingMethod" runat="server" Visible="false">
    </asp:PlaceHolder>
    <asp:PlaceHolder ID="plhShippingZones" runat="server" Visible="false">
    </asp:PlaceHolder>
    <asp:PlaceHolder ID="plhShippingCost" runat="server" Visible="false">
    </asp:PlaceHolder>
</td>
</tr>
</table>

.cs file:

namespace Modules.Module
{
    partial class ConfigureModule : PortalModuleBase, IModuleConfigure
    {
        private string _ShopId = "";
        private Hashtable CSettings;
        private CModuleConfigure ctlGeneral;
        private CModuleConfigure ctlInvoiceing;
        private CModuleConfigure ctlSmtp;
        private CModuleConfigure ctlPayment;
        private CModuleConfigure ctlTaxZones;
        private CModuleConfigure ctlShippingMethod;
        private CModuleConfigure ctlShippingZones;
        private CModuleConfigure ctlShippingCost;
        #region Event Handlers
        protected void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                if (!Page.IsPostBack)
                {
                    loadShops();
                    hlGeneral.Text = Localization.GetString("hlGeneral.Text", this.LocalResourceFile);
                    hlInvoiceing.Text = Localization.GetString("hlInvoiceing.Text", this.LocalResourceFile);
                    hlSmtp.Text = Localization.GetString("hlSmtp.Text", this.LocalResourceFile);
                    hlPayment.Text = Localization.GetString("hlPayment.Text", this.LocalResourceFile);
                    hlTaxZones.Text = Localization.GetString("hlTaxZones.Text", this.LocalResourceFile);
                    hlShippingMethod.Text = Localization.GetString("hlShippingMethod.Text", this.LocalResourceFile);
                    hlShippingZones.Text = Localization.GetString("hlShippingZones.Text", this.LocalResourceFile);
                    hlShippingCost.Text = Localization.GetString("hlShippingCost.Text", this.LocalResourceFile);
                    ShowPanels(true, false, false, false, false, false, false, false);
                }
                _ShopId = lstShop.SelectedValue;
                if (_ShopId.Length > 0)
                {
                    loadSettings();
                    trConfig.Visible = true;
                }
                else
                {
                    trConfig.Visible = false;
                }
            }
            catch (Exception exc) //Module failed to load
            {
                Exceptions.ProcessModuleLoadException(this, exc);
            }
        }
        protected void goConfigure(Object sender, CommandEventArgs e)
        {
            switch (e.CommandName.ToLower())
            {
                case "swap":

                    switch (e.CommandArgument.ToString().ToLower())
                    {
                        case "general":
                            ShowPanels(true, false, false, false, false, false, false, false);
                            break;
                        case "invoiceing":
                            ShowPanels(false, true, false, false, false, false, false, false);
                            break;
                        case "smtp":
                            ShowPanels(false, false, true, false, false, false, false, false);
                            break;
                        case "payment":
                            ShowPanels(false, false, false, true, false, false, false, false);
                            break;
                        case "taxzones":
                            ShowPanels(false, false, false, false, true, false, false, false);
                            break;
                        case "shippingmethod":
                            ShowPanels(false, false, false, false, false, true, false, false);
                            break;
                        case "shippingzones":
                            ShowPanels(false, false, false, false, false, false, true, false);
                            break;
                        case "shippingcost":
                            ShowPanels(false, false, false, false, false, false, false, true);
                            break;
                    }
                    break;
            }
        }
        #endregion
        #region private functions
        private void loadShops()
        {
            RoleController RC = new RoleController();
            ModuleShopController CSC = new ModuleShopController();
            lstShop.Items.Clear();
            lstShop.Items.Add(new ListItem("...", ""));
            foreach (ModuleShopInfo CSI in CSC.GetModuleShops(this.PortalId))
            {
                ModuleShopPermissionController CSPM = new ModuleShopPermissionController();
                foreach (ModuleShopPermissionInfo CSPI in CSPM.GetModuleShopPermissionsByShop(CSI.ShopId))
                {
                    if (this.UserInfo.IsInRole(RC.GetRole(CSPI.RoleId, this.PortalId).RoleName))
                    {
                        lstShop.Items.Add(new ListItem(CSI.ShopName, CSI.ShopId));
                        break;
                    }
                }
            }
            if (_ShopId.Length == 0)
            {
                lstShop.SelectedIndex = 0;
            }
        }
        private void loadSettings()
        {
            CSettings = new ModuleSettings(_ShopId).Settings;
            loadGeneral();
            loadInvoiceing();
            loadSmtp();
            loadPayment();
            loadTaxZones();
            loadShippingMethod();
            loadShippingZones();
            loadShippingCost();
        }
        private void loadGeneral()
        {
            plhGeneral.Controls.Clear();
            ctlGeneral = (CModuleConfigure)LoadControl(ModulePath + "ConfigureGeneralModule.ascx");
            ctlGeneral.ID = "GeneralModule_control";
            ctlGeneral.ParentControl = this as PortalModuleBase;
            ctlGeneral.CConfigure = this as IModuleConfigure;
            ctlGeneral.CSettings = CSettings;
            plhGeneral.Controls.Add(ctlGeneral);
        }
        private void loadInvoiceing()
        {
            plhInvoiceing.Controls.Clear();
            ctlInvoiceing = (CModuleConfigure)LoadControl(ModulePath + "ConfigureInvoiceingModule.ascx");
            ctlInvoiceing.ID = "InvoiceingModule_control";
            ctlInvoiceing.ParentControl = this as PortalModuleBase;
            ctlInvoiceing.CConfigure = this as IModuleConfigure;
            ctlInvoiceing.CSettings = CSettings;
            plhInvoiceing.Controls.Add(ctlInvoiceing);
        }
        private void loadSmtp()
        {
            plhSmtp.Controls.Clear();
            ctlSmtp = (CModuleConfigure)LoadControl(ModulePath + "ConfigureSmtpModule.ascx");
            ctlSmtp.ID = "SmtpModule_control";
            ctlSmtp.ParentControl = this as PortalModuleBase;
            ctlSmtp.CConfigure = this as IModuleConfigure;
            ctlSmtp.CSettings = CSettings;
            plhSmtp.Controls.Add(ctlSmtp);
        }
        private void loadPayment()
        {
            plhPayment.Controls.Clear();
            ctlPayment = (CModuleConfigure)LoadControl(ModulePath + "ConfigurePaymentModule.ascx");
            ctlPayment.ID = "PaymentModule_control";
            ctlPayment.ParentControl = this as PortalModuleBase;
            ctlPayment.CConfigure = this as IModuleConfigure;
            ctlPayment.CSettings = CSettings;
            plhPayment.Controls.Add(ctlPayment);
        }
        private void loadTaxZones()
        {
            plhTaxZones.Controls.Clear();
            ctlTaxZones = (CModuleConfigure)LoadControl(ModulePath + "ConfigureTaxZonesModule.ascx");
            ctlTaxZones.ID = "TaxModule_control";
            ctlTaxZones.ParentControl = this as PortalModuleBase;
            ctlTaxZones.CConfigure = this as IModuleConfigure;
            ctlTaxZones.CSettings = CSettings;
            plhTaxZones.Controls.Add(ctlTaxZones);
        }
        private void loadShippingMethod()
        {
            plhShippingMethod.Controls.Clear();
            ctlShippingMethod = (CModuleConfigure)LoadControl(ModulePath + "ConfigureShippingMethodModule.ascx");
            ctlShippingMethod.ID = "ShippingMethodModule_control";
            ctlShippingMethod.ParentControl = this as PortalModuleBase;
            ctlShippingMethod.CConfigure = this as IModuleConfigure;
            ctlShippingMethod.CSettings = CSettings;
            plhShippingMethod.Controls.Add(ctlShippingMethod);
        }
        private void loadShippingZones()
        {
            plhShippingZones.Controls.Clear();
            ctlShippingZones = (CModuleConfigure)LoadControl(ModulePath + "ConfigureShippingZonesModule.ascx");
            ctlShippingZones.ID = "ShippingZonesModule_control";
            ctlShippingZones.ParentControl = this as PortalModuleBase;
            ctlShippingZones.CConfigure = this as IModuleConfigure;
            ctlShippingZones.CSettings = CSettings;
            plhShippingZones.Controls.Add(ctlShippingZones);
        }
        private void loadShippingCost()
        {
            plhShippingCost.Controls.Clear();
            ctlShippingCost = (CModuleConfigure)LoadControl(ModulePath + "ConfigureShippingCostModule.ascx");
            ctlShippingCost.ID = "ShippingCostModule_control";
            ctlShippingCost.ParentControl = this as PortalModuleBase;
            ctlShippingCost.CConfigure = this as IModuleConfigure;
            ctlShippingCost.CSettings = CSettings;
            plhShippingCost.Controls.Add(ctlShippingCost);
        }
        #endregion
        #region IModuleConfigure
        public void ShowPanels(bool pnlGeneral, bool pnlInvoiceing, bool pnlSmtp, bool pnlPayment, bool pnlTaxZones, bool pnlShippingMethod, bool pnlShippingZones, bool pnlShippingCost)
        {
            plhGeneral.Visible = pnlGeneral;
            plhInvoiceing.Visible = pnlInvoiceing;
            plhSmtp.Visible = pnlSmtp;
            plhPayment.Visible = pnlPayment;
            plhTaxZones.Visible = pnlTaxZones;
            plhShippingMethod.Visible = pnlShippingMethod;
            plhShippingZones.Visible = pnlShippingZones;
            plhShippingCost.Visible = pnlShippingCost;
        }
        public string ShopId
        {
            get
            {
                return _ShopId;
            }
        }
        #endregion
    }
}

and the imoduleconfigure type (compiled cs class):

namespace Leval.Modules.Module.Is
{
    public interface IModuleConfigure
    {
        void ShowPanels(bool pnlGeneral, bool pnlInvoiceing, bool pnlSmtp, bool pnlPayment, bool pnlTaxZones, bool pnlShippingMethod, bool pnlShippingZones, bool pnlShippingCost);
        string ShopId { get;}
    }
}

and one of the strongly typed classes (CModuleConfigure here, also compiled cs class):

namespace Modules.Module.Cs
{
    public abstract class CModuleConfigure : CModule_Basis
    {
        protected IModuleConfigure _CConfigure;

        public IModuleConfigure CConfigure
        {
            get { return _CConfigure; }
            set { _CConfigure = value; }
        }
    }
}
 

And the basis class to complete it:

namespace Modules.Module.Cs
{
    public class CModule_Basis : PortalModuleBase
    {
        #region Private Declarations
        protected PortalModuleBase _ParentControl = new PortalModuleBase();
        protected Hashtable _CSettings;

        #endregion

        #region PortalModuleBase Overrides
        protected override void OnLoad(EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                this.LocalResourceFile = DotNetNuke.Services.Localization.Localization.GetResourceFile(this, this.GetType().BaseType.Name + ".ascx");
                this.ModuleConfiguration = _ParentControl.ModuleConfiguration;
                base.OnLoad(e);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                throw new Exception(ex.Message);
            }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Public Properties
        public Hashtable CSettings
        {
            get
            { return _CSettings; }
            set
            { _CSettings = value; }
        }
        public PortalModuleBase ParentControl
        {
            get { return _ParentControl; }
            set { _ParentControl = value; }
        }
        #endregion
    }
}
 

HTH

Alexander